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Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Sporty's Pilot Shop
Pilot's Discretion brings you authentic conversations with some of aviation's most interesting people. From honest discussions about flight training to fascinating stories from airshow pilots, this podcast is for anyone who loves to fly. Stay tuned for our rapid-fire "ready to copy" segment at the end of every episode, where we go beyond the cliches to find out what each guest really thinks. Brought to you by Sporty's Pilot Shop, training and equipping pilots worldwide since 1961. Have a comment? Email us: podcast@sportys.com
Latest Episodes
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- 3 days ago43 min
Using an Eclipse for charitable flights, with Mark Hanson
Public benefit flying might mean transporting a cancer patient or relocating turtles, but regardless of the mission Mark Hanson says it’s rewarding, fun, and great for keeping your pilot skills sharp. He talks about managing the pressure of these flights, how to get started with a volunteer pilot organization, and why his Eclipse is the perfect airplane. In the Ready to Copy segment, Mark talks about his most memorable passenger, tips for flying into busy airports, and a new aviation weather tool he likes.SHOW LINKS:* Become a volunteer pilot: https://vpoids.aircarealliance.org/join* Air Care Alliance webinars: https://www.youtube.com/@aircarealliance6167* IFR Mastery from PilotWorkshops: https://sportys.com/mastery
- 2 weeks ago41 min
Is GA dying or thriving, with Tom Charpentier
More new pilots, more flying hours, and fewer accidents—that’s the positive picture EAA’s Tom Charpentier sees when he looks at the latest FAA numbers. He shares how to be an optimist about aviation, why the 1970s are not a fair comparison, and what issues could disrupt the current growth cycle. Tom is deeply involved in EAA’s regulatory work, and he explains the importance of FAA orders and what to expect from MOSAIC. In the Ready to Copy segment, Tom talks about his favorite part of AirVenture, flying the Cessna 170, and wilderness canoeing.SHOW LINKS:* EAA Green Dot podcast: https://www.eaa.org/eaa/news-and-publications/eaa-news-and-aviation-news/eaa-the-green-dot-podcast* Article: “How Safe Is It?” https://inspire.eaa.org/2017/05/11/how-safe-is-it/* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS
- May 5, 202640 min
The challenges and rewards of taildraggers, with Damian DelGaizo
Tailwheel airplanes demand excellent situational awareness and sharp manual flying skills, two things that modern pilots often lack according to taildragger expert Damian DelGaizo. The longtime flight school owner, who learned from an aviation legend, talks about the finer points of three-point landings, wheel landings, and Piper Cubs. He also explains why a touch pass is important for evaluating grass runways and why you might have to carry a garbage bag full of rocks when flying skiplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, Damian talks about dancing on the rudder pedals, how to fly with heel brakes, and teaching Harrison Ford to fly taildraggers.SHOW LINKS:* Tailwheel 101 videos:https://youtu.be/4mPmculCxkA* Andover Flight Academy: https://www.andoverflight.com/* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS
- Apr 21, 202644 min
Hard truths about aviation safety, with Douglas Boyd
The GA accident rate is getting better, but aviation safety researcher Douglas Boyd says there’s still plenty of work to do. He shares a fascinating array of statistics in this episode, pulled from the 300+ papers he has authored, including how many hours is enough to stay proficient, what really causes landing accidents, and the truth about older pilots’ safety record. In the Ready to Copy segment, Dr. Boyd talks about flying out of CG, whether engine TBO really matters, and the best places to visit in Scotland.SHOW LINKS:* Airline vs. GA pilot safety:https://commons.erau.edu/publication/1494/* Aging pilots study: https://commons.erau.edu/publication/2419/* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS
- Apr 7, 202641 min
Legal gray areas for pilots, with Mark Kolber
Too many pilots miss out on fun and rewarding flying experiences because they’re afraid of legal gray areas, according to aviation lawyer and flight instructor Mark Kolber. He shares the facts about cost sharing, ramp checks, and medical applications, with practical advice for staying out of trouble with the FAA. Mark is also a longtime CFI, so he also offers tips for learning to fly later in life and transitioning to new airplanes. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll hear about flying in Colorado, Carolina barbecue, and lawyer jokes.SHOW LINKS:* Mark’s legal webinar: https://youtu.be/sWZ5INyRhfE* Mark’s article on IFR departures: https://ifr-magazine.com/avionics/ifr-departures/* PJ2 GPS Radio: https://sportys.com/PJ2GPS
- Mar 24, 202647 min
What pilots should know about ATC, with Marcus Miller
Air traffic controllers and pilots are on the same team, they just have different perspectives. Marcus Miller, a center controller and the creator of the PropHatCat TikTok channel, explains those differences and much more in this fast-paced episode, including: when to fly a piston airplane into an airline airport, how to ask for help as a student pilot, and what he thinks of all the jokes on guard frequency. He also talks about pursuing ATC as a career, including the role of simulators and the benefits of musical theater training. In the Ready to Copy segment, Marcus shares the number one misconception about ATC, his favorite Broadway show, and tips for pulling off magic tricks.SHOW LINKS:* PropHatCat on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prophatcat* PropHatCat t-shirts: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4449530402/prophatcat-shirt* Pilot’s Tip of the Week: https://pilotworkshop.com/tip
- Mar 10, 202632 min
Crossing the Atlantic at age 89, with Ed Galkin
Ed Galkin has flown his Cessna 210 around the world in both directions, and last year he flew a circle around the Atlantic Ocean at age 89. In his uniquely energetic way, he explains how much planning goes into each trip, how he stays focused in flight, and the best places he’s visited along the way. Ed also shares some tips for staying sharp as a pilot, even well into your 80s, including the value of an instrument rating. In the Ready to Copy segment, you’ll learn about managing your bladder on 14-hour flights, landing at Easter Island, and what Ed learned as an oral surgeon that helped in the cockpit.SHOW LINKS:* Flight to End Polio: https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/* Fly for the Cure: https://flyforthecure.org/* Pilot’s Tip of the Week: https://pilotworkshop.com/tip
- Feb 24, 202647 min
Space Shuttle lessons for private pilots, with Charlie Precourt
From the Space Shuttle to F-15 fighter jets to his homebuilt VariEze, Charlie Precourt approaches every flight with the same discipline. In this episode he shares some of the lessons learned from his one-of-a-kind career, including the power of visualization, realistic personal minimums, and flight training that goes beyond checking the box. Charlie also shares some fascinating stories from his days at NASA, including landing the Space Shuttle and docking with the Mir space station. In the Ready to Copy segment, Charlie talks about underrated airplanes, flying with a test pilot’s mindset, and lessons learned from Russian pilots.SHOW LINKS:* The biggest myth in aviation: https://flighttrainingcentral.com/2025/08/the-biggest-myth-in-aviation-that-great-pilots-are-defined-by-great-flying-skills/* Space Shuttle landing video: https://youtu.be/q5qyOWv0fHk* Pilot’s Tip of the Week: https://pilotworkshop.com/tip
About Pilot's Discretion from Sporty's
Pilot's Discretion brings you authentic conversations with some of aviation's most interesting people. From honest discussions about flight training to fascinating stories from airshow pilots, this podcast is for anyone who loves to fly. Stay tuned for our rapid-fire "ready to copy" segment at the end of every episode, where we go beyond the cliches to find out what each guest really thinks. Brought to you by Sporty's Pilot Shop, training and equipping pilots worldwide since 1961. Have a comment? Email us: podcast@sportys.com
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